'The Dead Path is creepy and crawly and spooky ... If you're a horror fan, or you love ghost stories,
this is one wowser of a book for you.' Charlaine Harris, creator of the Sookie Stackhouse series

'Exploring the dark corners where childhood nightmares become adult terror, this debut novel ...
is a ghost story to please murder mystery and horror fans alike, as well as John Saul and Peter
Straub fans. Memorable characters, beautifully crafted writing, and an adept hand at storytelling
will have readers begging for Irwin's next book.
Highly recommended.' Starred Review, Library Journal

'It is dark, disturbing, and in places disgusting, but does what it's supposed to do ––
scare the heck out of you. It makes you want to turn on every light in your house.' Bookreporter

'I was riveted by this novel. It is the best horror novel I have read this year ... The Dead Path reminds
me of nothing so much as early-to-mid period Stephen King, and in all the right ways. Transplant the
location from Australia to King’s Maine, and it would fit in well with the better part of his body of work.
If you like Stephen King, and if you read horror you probably do, I can’t imagine you wouldn’t like
The Dead Path. I loved it.' Dead in the South

'Irwin employs many of the images familiar from dark fairy tales – skittering spiders, a haunted forest,
an evil witch – and infuses them with fresh terror. One of the scariest novels of this or any other year,
The Dead Path is sure to draw comparisons to the work of Stephen King.' Booklist

'The Darkening is a mind-blowing supernatural suspense thriller. Read this book and I guarantee
you’ll sleep with the lights on!’ Newbooks

‘This is quite simply the scariest book I have ever read.’ The American Book Center Blog

‘I can’t remember being this creeped out by a book since reading King’s The Shining.’
HorrorScope

‘The Dead Path is astonishingly assured novel for a debut … a taut thriller.’ ABC Radio

‘The Darkening (or The Dead Path) is a stunning debut … while the novel is not a typical thriller,
given its large number of supernatural elements, it will appeal to thriller readers with its pace,
mystery, and excitement. 4 Stars.’ Books’n’Bytes

‘Best read in sunlight. 4 stars.’ Who Weekly

‘A very, very fine debut.’ West Australian

‘Irwin is not satisfied with simply telling a story of modern day witchcraft in the woods of terror;
he decided to add a dose more horror into the mix to ensure the reader is kept on their toes …
Irwin blends the very correct writing style of James Herbert with the free-flowing naturalistic style
of Stephen King to produce a novel that will certainly keep you up in the morning.’ Scary Minds